Ask the Swag Gal – September 28, 2011

Today’s question comes from a Swaggernaut looking to venture into the work-from-home world:

“Are there any legitimate work-from-home jobs out there? I am so very leery of the ones I find online.”

Being a full-time mom is most certainly a full-time job. I know we have many Swaggernauts who are stay-at-home moms, and although this alone requires a lot of work and energy, some people still yearn for the satisfaction and fulfillment of having a paying job. It can be very tough to find work-from-home jobs that are legitimate and aren’t trying to scam you. CBS News, however, did a great story on work-at-home websites that actually work and included some awesome tips for anyone planning on taking a work-at-home position. I am now going to pass this useful information on to you.

ChaCha.com is a search engine that specializes in answering questions through a technique known as the human search engine. A human search engine is a search engine that uses human participation to filter the search results and assist users in clarifying their search request. You can now be paid to search for the answers for ChaCha users. ”You can apply to be one of the people who decides what search results pop up when someone types in, phones in or texts an inquiry on a topic you’re passionate about — anything from God to Guitars and from Diabetes to Decorating” (CBSNews.com). All you need to apply is a high speed internet connection. Click here to apply to become a guide.

VIPDesk.com’s primary focus is to “provide our clients with exceptional customer care solutions. Always innovative and flexible, VIPdesk is passionate about providing our clients with the best people and the best brand experiences” (VIPDesk.com). You can become a virtual concierge for VIPDesk to help people plan travel, find home improvement contractors, seek out the highest rated local restaurant, and more. ”The job can be done from home, anywhere in the country, at set hours for generally $10-12 an hour” (CBSNews.com). They’re always looking for bilingual representatives, so if you have that under your belt, you definitely have an edge.

“For businesses looking to staff-up a team on an hourly or project basis, Elance offers instant access to qualified professionals who work online and provides the tools to hire, view work as it progresses and pay for results” (eLance.com). Business are posting available jobs to the site every day. ”There have been over 35,000 jobs posted to the site in the past 30 days – everything from building Facebook apps to ghostwriting books, developing marketing materials, graphic design work and writing executive bios” (CBSNews.com). To apply, you must submit a proposal for the work you want, get hired, and agree upon the terms. At the end of the job, you submit your invoice and the funds are released from escrow. ”This is key, because one of the things freelancers and e-lancers struggle with is getting paid and getting paid expeditiously. So the fact that eLance provides a tool to facilitate this and that the project is funded up-front is significant benefit” (CBSNews.com).

Tips

Be Tech-Ready

-Make sure you have access to high-speed internet, a dedicated working space, and a free phone line.

Know Your Price

-Don’t sell yourself short. Make sure you know what the going rate is for the work you’re qualified to do.

Over-Deliver

-It can be hard to stand out in a virtual crowd. Over-deliver to ensure a high-rating and a good reputation to allow yourself more opportunities.

I hope this helps to open you up to the world of working from home. I’ll now open it up to our Swaggernauts – if you have any suggestions or tips on working from home, leave it in the comments section below.

~TSGal

P.S. – Send your questions to TheSwagGal@Swagbucks.com. If your question is chosen your answer will be featured in the blog and you’ll be hooked up with 150 Swag Bucks!